Erasing device.



J. S. RAPSON.

BRASING DEVICE. Arruouion rnnn JULY 10.1901.

' a c nu. NORRIS rirrlls cm, WASHINGTON.

' am]; FEB. 11, 1908.

JOHN S. RAPSON, OF ELKINS PARK, PENNSYLVANIA.

ERASING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1908.

Application filed July 18. 1907. Serial No- 384.311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. RAPSON, of Elkins Park, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Erasing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionhas reference to erasing devices, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide an appliance which may be placed upon the paper and hold it firmly in position during the time the pencil or ink mark is being erased, the construction of appliance being such that the eraser is mechanically connected with the plate, whereby it is in proper position while having freedom of movement relatively to the plate.

My object is furthermore, to so construct the metallic portion of the appliance that it may also serve for other useful urposes about a desk, such for example as 'or opening envelops', ruling, measuring, severing and cancellation of checks.

My invention consistsessentially of a metallic plate having its middle portion open so that when the late is pressed down upon the paper, only a imited area of the paper is exposed within the plate and the surrounding portions are held firmly, combined with a mechanically supported rod with freedom of horizontal movement and upon which is mechanically connected the eraser which is thereby attached to the clamped plate but is free to be manipulated by hand to erase pencil or ink marks from the paper anywhere wlithin the area of the opening through the ate.

p My invention more broadly consists of a plate having an aperture through which to expose the sheet of paper, combined with an eraser, and means for yieldingly connecting the eraser with the plate whereby it may be freely moved to operate through the aperture upon the exposed paper.

My invention also consists of details of construction, which, together with the features above specified,will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which 2-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an erasing device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the lineof greatest length; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation.

'Ais the plate. and is provided with a central opening B, preferably rectangular.

Part of the metal removed from this opening B is turned upward to form flanges O C which are provided with horizontal slots 0. Extending through these slots 0 c and free to swing and move in all directions freely within them is a rod D, which is provided with a ball E at one end and a nut F on the other end, which latter may be adjustably fastened in any suitable manner, such as by the ordinary expedient of a screw-thread. By means of theparts E and F, the rod D is held in position within the slots of the flanges. The middle portion of the rod D is by this arrangement supported above the opening B in the plate, and at some distance above the same.

Loosely supported upon the rod D is an eraser G which is made more or less cigarshaped or double-pointed, one end of which may be for erasing pencil marks and the other end for erasing ink marks, very similar to an ordinary ink and pencil eraser. The central part of this eraser is provided with an eyelet H through which the rod D is threaded and upon which the eraser is free to slide lengthwise of the rod. The proportion of the eraser is made such that when the rod is at one end of the slot 0, the point of the eraser G may be turned down so as to reach the paper exposed adjacent to the most distant edge b of the plate bounding the opening B.

By means of this arrangement of parts, it is evident that the plate may be pressed down upon any part of the paper and the marks may be erased accurately, as the edge of the plate shields those portions which are not to be erased and obviates the necessity of being over-careful. The fact that the rod D has great play in the slotted portions 0, permits the eraser G to be shifted forward or backward to compensate for wear of the same or to be turned obliquely as well as being rocked upon the rod D. In other words, the eraser G is universally supported. The not F which is secured upon the end of the rod D may be cylindrical and its outer surface knurled in such form as to be capable of being used to perforate checks over the amounts, so that the plate may be held in the hand while the nut F is pressed upon and run over the check.

One end of the plate A may be provided with a jaw I leaving a slotted portion 01 terminating in a knife-edge J. By inserting the jaw I underthe flap of a sealed envelop, the same may be readily cut open, and this would be facilitated by the knife-edge J. This part of the device therefore constitutes an envelop opener.

One or more of the edges of the rectangular plate A is provided with scales, such scales being indicated at K, L and M. These scales may be confined to one edge if so desired. On the edge corresponding to the scale K, is provided notches O in line with the scale marks, and these may be for every quarter of an inch, or otherwise as desired. The point of the jaw I is provided with a small aperture N in substantial alinement with the edge of the scale K and at a definite distance from the first scale mark. By inserting a pin through the aperture N, the plate A may be rotated upon it as a center, and by placing a encil in any one of the notches O and app ying pressure laterally to the pencil, the plate may be rotated about the pin at N for the purpose of describing circles of any desired diameter within the limit of the scale. The scale may be used for drawing or any other purpose where measurement is required. The scale M and L or M and K may constitute a right angled scale for such purposes as may be found convenient. Furthermore, the plate A may be employed as an edge for holding a stub or other paper while the loose portion is being torn or severed for detachment. The plate A may be of brass or other metal with a nickel or other finish.

While I have shown my eraser device in suitable form for the commercial market, and while I prefer the construction as illustrated, the details may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An eraser device consisting of a plate having an aperture formed therein, combined with an eraser,'and a mechanical support for the eraser for connecting it to the plate above the aperture therein and permitting its free movement for operation upon the paper exposed through the aperture of the plate.

2. In an eraser device, the combination of a plate having an aperture therein and slotted supports extending upward from the plate at each end of the aperture, with a rod extending through the slotted supports and above the aperture, and an eraser carried by the rod intermediate of the supports and above the aperture.

3. In an eraser device, the combination of a plate having an aperture therein and slotted supports extending upward from the plate at each end of the aperture, with a rod extending through the slotted supports and above the aperture, and an eraser loosely sleeved upon the rod soas to be capable of rocking and slidin thereupon.

4. In an eraser device, the combination of a plate having an aperture therein and slotted supports extending upward from the plate at each end of the aperture, with a rod extending through the slotted supports and above the aperture, an eraser carried by the rod intermediate of the supports and above the aperture, and means for detachably holding the rod in the slotted supports.

5. In an eraser device, the combination of a plate having an aperture therein and slotted supports extending upward from the plate at each end of the aperture, with a rod extending through the slotted supports and above the aperture, an eraser carried by the rod intermediate of the supports and above the aperture, and means for detachably holding the rod in the slotted supports consisting of enlarged parts upon each end of the rod beyond the supports one of which is provided with a knurled portion to form a perforating device.

6. An eraser device consisting of a plate having an aperture through which to expose the sheet of paper, combined with an eraser, and means for yieldingly connecting the eraser with the plate whereby it may be freely moved to operate through the aperture upon the exposed paper.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN S. RAPSON. Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, R. M. KELLY. 

